People often use “domain” and “website” as if they meant the same thing. They are related, but they are separate pieces, and understanding the difference makes everything else easier.
The short version
- The domain is the address, such as
yourname.org. - The website is what people see when they visit: your pages, images and text.
- The hosting is the computer service that stores your website and sends it to visitors.
A useful picture is a house. The domain is the street address. The website is the house itself. Hosting is the plot of land the house is built on.
You can have one without the other
You can register a domain and not build a website, for example to use it only for email or to protect your name. You can also build a website without your own domain, using an address like yourname.somebuilder.com, but that address belongs to the website builder.
How they connect
You connect your domain to your website with DNS settings. When someone types your domain, DNS tells their browser which hosting service holds your site. If you move to a new host, you update the DNS settings and visitors follow the address to the new location. Our guide on connecting a domain to a website walks through it.
Who you pay
- A registrar for the domain, usually yearly.
- A hosting provider or website builder for the website, often monthly or yearly. Many offer a free starter plan.
- An email provider, if you want email at your domain.
Some companies bundle all three. Bundles are convenient, but keep track of which part you are paying for, so that you can move one piece without losing the others.